Having realized that the life of regular 22-year-olds sucks — student debt, applying for work in a tight job market, facing the prospect of moving back in with their parents — Zayn Malik has decided to pursue other ventures.

Namely, the former One Direction member (as of less than a month ago) recently met with director Gurinder Chadha (“Bend It Like Beckham”). Chadha told Britain'sDaily Mirror that Malik, who had trained as an actor before joining the biggest boy band on the planet, is “staying true to his heart” by turning his attention to screen roles.

Chadha is working on a Bollywood musical adaptation of her hit soccer film, and if it really was the craziness of One Direction that caused him to leave the boy band, we’re not sure how becoming a movie star in India is going to help with his zen.

Eva Kis is on Twitter@thisiskis, where she talks about pop culture, cats and media almost as much as food.